BU Now » Afghanistan

U.S. talked of replacing Karzai

Dick Taffe — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:53:42 +0000

A top U.S. diplomat reportedly discussed enlisting the White House in replacing Afghan President Karzai after Karzai’s flawed re-election victory this fall. But it went no where and the diplomat was fired. Journalism Professor Nick Mills, author of “Karzai: The Failing American Intervention and the Struggle for Afghanistan,” thinks the diplomat, Peter Galbraith, had the right idea.

“That the UN and the U.S. were so eager to declare Karzai the winner of the election despite his massive vote fraud and Karzai’s tolerance of systemic government corruption mocks the whole notion of what we’re supposed to be fighting for there.”

Conact Nick Mills, 617-353-3492, nmills@bu.edu

Obama’s new Afghan policy

Dick Taffe — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:59:37 +0000

President Obama will tell the nation Tuesday about his new policy in Afghanistan. Journalism Professor Nick Mills, author of “Karzai: The failing American Intervention and the Struggle for Afghanistan,” says he is disappointed at reports that Obama will increase U.S. troop strength there.

“I don’t expect that an additional 30,000 troops will make much of a difference; it will bring our forces to about the highest level of Red Army forces that were in Afghanistan in the late 1980s, and the Soviets understood that even that number was insufficient. The insurgency will grow to meet any new levels of force.”

Contact Nick Mills, 617-353-3492, nmills@bu.edu

William Keylor on the Afghan war

Jo Breiner — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:21:10 +0000

Karzai a “wild card” for U.S. policy

Dick Taffe — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:23:51 +0000

Afghan President Karzai’s re-election by default leaves the U.S. in the pre-election dilemma of having to deal with an Afghan government that the people there don’t trust. Journalism Professor Nick Mills, author of “Karzai: The Failing American Intervention and the Struggle for Afghanistan,” says Karzai has consistently failed to make the tough decisions that would have moved that nation forward.

“I don’t think the American public will support a large escalation of military forces and spending to defend a government that refuses to do its share of the heavy lifting.”

Contact Nick Mills, 617-353-3492, nmills@bu.edu

Karzai’s brother on CIA payroll

Dick Taffe — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:03:24 +0000

In an diplomatic bombshell, the New York Times reports that Afghan President Karzai’s brother – long a suspect in that nation’s opium trade – is on the CIA’s payroll and has been for years. Journalism Professor Nick Mills, who came to know the future president in the ’80s when Mills ran BU’s Afghan Media Project, says this explains why there was no “hard evidence” for Karzai to remove his brother from power.

“The hard evidence is all in the CIA’s possession — and obviously Karzai knew it, which further erodes his legitimacy as president.”

Contact Nick Mills, 617-353-3492, nmills@bu.edu

Prof. William Keylor comments on “Bloodshed in Afghanistan”

Jo Breiner — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:09:54 +0000

Karzai’s re-election bid

Dick Taffe — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:30:56 +0000

Afghan President Hamid Kazai’s re-election bid will be decided this week. Polls are predicting a win, but not necessarily with an outright majority to avoid a run-off election with former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah. Journalism Professor Nick Mills, author of “Karzai: The Failing American Intervention and the Struggle for Afghanistan,” can comment. He’s know Karzai since the 1980s when Mills ran Boston University’s USIA-funded Afghan Media Project.

Contact Nick Mills, 617-353-3492, nmills@bu.edu

IR Prof. Andrew Bacevich: “Is Afghanistan worth it?”

Jo Breiner — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:38:55 +0000

Embedded video from CNN Video

IR Prof. William Keylor comments on casualties in Afghanistan

Jo Breiner — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:53:06 +0000

Afghan revamp

Tom Testa — Fri, 08 May 2009 15:57:12 +0000

As reported in the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. will appoint a three-star general to Kabul, marking the first time since the seven-year war began that the U.S. will have two senior commanders in Afghanistan. Former head of the American Embassy in Kabul, Charles Dunbar, now a professor of international relations, is available for comment on the revamp.

Contact Charles Dunbar, 617-353-5633, cfdunbar@bu.edu